Fireflight

Chapter Twelve

The early morning sun cast the tall green grass in a cool morning light. The bright white, red and yellow flowers of the tall grass glowed a light honey gold, and a soft breeze swept across the mostly flat plains that stretched from the rocky shores of the great Kaniatario Lake to the foot hills that fringed the last peak of the Infernal Mountains. On a small bluff that rose between the hills and the water, a copse of pine trees stretched high into the sky. Birds wheeled around the thick patch of forest, going to and fro to their nests. The reddish colored sky was obscured by a thick layer of low fog, and a heavy downfall of mist drifted to the surface below. 

From a small and cozy cabin tucked just within the shelter of the trees, an elderly fiend hobbled to northern face edge of the bluff. He had been interrupted from his breakfast eggs, hash and toast by the sound of faint explosions. He peered to the northwest, and although the fog was thick and his vision wasn't what it once had been, he could clearly see bright flashes and streaks in the direction of Huros, the small city that lay just three miles away. The faint wail of air raid sirens drifted too him, filling him with unease. 

The old man had heard the rumors of imminent war. Despite this he had thought it nothing more than the concerns of those much younger than him. In his lifetime tensions between the Silver Legion and its neighbors had flared, only to cool off again. This however, was something different. This time war was the answer. Turning, the elder shuffled as fast as he could back to his shack. He'd fought in the military in his younger days, and still had his issued rifle. 

After a short while of preparation, the near ancient fiend had collected his gun, ammo and supplies in a camping bag. He hefted a few extra cans of gasoline into the trunk of an old, rusted landspeeder he'd acquired and slowly mounted the machine. Revving the engine to life, he decided that he would head towards the city, look for any survivors that had made it out of the city, before racing south and east to safety and to raise the alarm. 

With a rumble and a kick back of dirt, the speeder lurched forwards, rushing down off of the bluff and towards the burning city below.

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Far away in Tarenketer Chancellor Byransk sat at the head of one of the great tables in the great hall, his daughter Tanya seated to his side. The two of them had taken the time to get together for breakfast, and had just finished their meal when an aid came rushing over. 

"Sir, we're under attack by the enemy to the north!" he huffed. 

Byransk stiffened and pushed himself up quickly. "As of now?" 

"Yes sir." 

Tanya stood up as well. "Is there anything I can do father?" she asked. 

"Yes, go to the Strip. I will inform you of any necessary information as it comes, and you can ready your forces in the Strip in case." 

Tanya nodded and took off for her limo and the chancellor followed the aid to the war room, buried underneath the palace itself. Once there he took his place at the head of the table where his chief advisors and generals were gathering. 

"Inform me now." Byransk demanded as he took a seat. 

"Soldiers from the principalities have crossed the border into the Macota territories." His chief military advisor explained. "We've got reports of open combat and we've lost contact with our first defensive line." 

"So they've decided on war." The chancellor growled. "Very well then. Mobilize our armies, I want those principalities broken at my feet!"